Background
Nigel Good is a real life success story, as he's a teacher by day and a producer whenever he has time, according to his SoundCloud page. He's released various EP's and an album, and "Space Cadet" is his most recent and was released through Monstercat, with the song "No Way Back Up (feat. Illuminor)" being released beforehand as a single.
Review
Listen to "Space Cadet"
"Space Cadet" is more than an album. It's a storybook; we get to follow an astronaut on his journey throughout space. Interestingly, the whole album is mixed together; one song seamlessly transitions into the next. This gives a sense of coherence to the record and enhances the story. "Space Cadet" begins with "It Starts," an appropriately titled into track. It's an appropriate soundtrack for an expansive shot of space. "It Starts" reflects the wonder, the vastness, and the excitement that space brings out even in the best of us. "This is Forever" continues the spacey theme but with an upbeat adventure feel and the first real implications of any dance music present on the album. "An Adventure (feat. Davek)" is next, and it's a guitar soundscape that could inspire even the best of us. While the first three tracks could almost double as a movie soundtrack, it's the next track and first released single, "No Way Back Up (feat. Illuminor)" that brings "Space Cadet" back to an EDM album. Both it and "Disappear (feat. Mango, Andre Frauenstein, & Stefan Ludik)" are the typical happy upbeat melodic trance/progressive house fusion that's expected from Nigel Good and more than welcome. "Disappear (feat. Mango, Andre Frauenstein, & Stefan Ludik)," however, features a tasty saxophone solo. The record slows down again with "Stellar," which is nothing but slowed down atmospheric goodness. It's three minutes of a vessel traveling through empty space, and in it I feel the soundtrack nature of the album peeking out again. This notion is tossed to the wind with "Cliché Lovesong (feat. Fenomenon)," which brings us back to EDM with a spaced-out deep house feel and heartfelt vocals to match. "Bastion" is another short interlude, but with a more definite house feel. It then transitions into "Space Plus One," a wonderfully out there progressive house track that's far from short of creativity. "Nova," the next track, feels like an extension of "Space Plus One," but the progressive feel has been replaced with a funky complextro beat, the first of its kind on the album and the much needed edge that rounds out "Space Cadet." "Cloudstepper" is the first EDM track to break the house tempo, instead coming in as an awe-inspiring liquid drum and bass track. "Space Cadet" closes with "Don't Want To Go (feat. Go Periscope)," which sounds like it belongs on a Madeon album. Wherever it belongs, the lead-heavy driving with big, spacey chords is the perfect way to end the album.
Nigel Good hasn't just produced an outstanding record. "Space Cadet" is a work of art, beautifully crafted to invoke the story of a lone astronaut trying to make his way in the world. From the seamless transitions to the soundscapes perfectly created to present vivid images, it's evident that Nigel Good spent hours perfecting his vision, and with "Space Cadet" has brought a story to life. 9/10
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